Nandigram

It’s that time of the year when we analyze, assess, review and finalise our list of the winners and losers of the year. 2008 was a particularly fruitful year since the economic meltdown gave us more losers than we usually know what to do with.

Nandigram and you won't say the Buddha again, unless you are an aficionado of the blood sport of sub-rural communism. Nandigram has brought out the dark heart of the Compassionate One on the left. No longer a Deng or Dubcek but Stalin redux, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya has ceased to be the most indulged communist of our times.

Come December, and all roads lead to the nearest auditorium where one award ceremony or another is taking place. From businessmen to bankers, film stars to fashion victims, ministers to musicians, social workers to social climbers, men of the year, women of the year and, somewhere, even baby of the year, we just can't get enough of awards, regardless of the devaluation in status or the price of silver shooting through the roof.